DANNY RICHARDS AND SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES ON HAYLING ISLAND

Following an extensive investigation conducted by Hampshire Constabulary, a 59-year-old man from Hayling Island has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 20 years after he admitted to committing ten serious offences involving sexual assault and exploitation of two young children. The children involved were under the age of two at the time these heinous acts occurred.

The investigation began after authorities seized electronic devices during a raid and subsequent search of a property on Salterns Lane, Hayling Island. The Digital Forensics Unit uncovered disturbing indecent images of children on these devices, which played a key role in building the case against the accused. These findings prompted further inquiries and ultimately led to the arrest of Danny John Richards on Thursday, 28 July 2022.

Richards was quickly charged with multiple offences, including the rape of a girl under the age of 13, two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, and two additional charges of assault through touching. In addition, he faced three counts of producing indecent photographs of children and two counts of taking such photographs. These grave allegations represent some of the most serious sexual crimes under UK law.

On Thursday, 13 October, Richards appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court and pleaded guilty to all ten charges. His admission of guilt spared the court the need for a trial, and the case was expedited to proceedings swiftly. Today, Friday, 11 November, he was formally sentenced, receiving a prison term of 20 years. As part of his punishment, Richards will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his future conduct, and he will be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Detective Inspector Heather Noad expressed her sentiments following the sentencing, stating, “I hope today’s sentence goes some way in helping the victims and their loved ones begin to move forward with their lives after these appalling offences were committed. In this particular case, Richards’ guilty pleas for all offences avoided the need for a trial, which can often be retraumatizing for victims.”

She further explained that the investigation was initiated when the Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) received intelligence indicating that indecent images of children had been uploaded to the internet from a specific IP address. This led to a warrant being executed at the property on Salterns Lane, where multiple electronic devices were seized. Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of illegal images, directly linking Richards to the offences.

Inspector Noad reassured the public that law enforcement is committed to protecting victims and providing necessary support. “If anyone has concerns about this kind of offending or suspects someone they know may be involved in such conduct, we urge you to report it. We work tirelessly to ensure victims and their families receive the help they need and to bring perpetrators to justice.”

Ashleigh Doy, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Wessex, highlighted the gravity of Richards’ crimes, stating, “Richards subjected two innocent children to the most sickening crimes, all for his own sexual gratification. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and collaborated closely with police to build a solid, evidence-based case.”

She emphasized that Richards’ guilty plea was driven by the weight of evidence against him, which resulted in a swift prosecution process designed to deliver justice promptly. Doy concluded by sending a clear warning to other potential offenders: “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to prosecuting serious sexual crimes against children, and we hope today’s outcome discourages others from committing similar acts.”

Authorities encourage anyone who has been a victim of child abuse or who possesses information about such crimes to contact police by calling 101. Support services are also available; Child Line can be reached at 0800 11 11, and adult victims or concerned individuals are advised to contact the NSPCC at 0808 800 5000 for assistance.